Billiard and other game table.



No. 889,843. PATENTED JUNE 2, 1908.

- H. G. BARRETT.

BILLIARD AND. OTHER GAME TABLE. APPLICATION IILBD JULY 8. 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD G. BARRETT, OF WILMETTE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN H. LEE, OF OAK PARK,

. ILLINOIS.

BILLIARD AND OTHER GAME TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HAROLD G. BARRETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wilmette, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Billiard and other Game Tables, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to clothattaching devices for billiard tables, pool tables, etc.; and my primary object is to rovide means for more efiectively and erfectly stretching and holding the cloth W ich forms the covering of the bed or slab (slate) of the table, provision being made, also, for re-stretching of the cloth or renewal'thereof as occasion arises.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 re resents a broken perspective view of a poo table constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a broken section at one of the pockets of the table, a

leather protecting strip employed thereat being removed, however; Fig. 3, a similar section showing the leathern guard in place; Fi 4, a perspective view of a curved clothho ding strip employed at the pockets; Fig. 5, a view showing a modified form of clothholding strip in corner configuration; Fig. 6, j a sectional view of the cloth-holding strip shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7, a broken sectional view of a billiard table constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 8, a similar section with certain parts removed; Fig. 9, a broken pers ective view showing the corner portion 0 the bed of a billiard table equipped with my improvements; Fig. 10, a sectional view of an adjustable toothed cloth-holding bar employed; Fig. 11, a fragmentary side elevational view of the same; Fig. 12, a view similar to Fig. 8, but showing a modified form of cloth-holding bar; and Fig. 13, a broken perspective sectional view of a still further modification.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, A represents a pool table, comprising the usual bed A (commonly of slate), body A removable end-rails A removable side-rails A, tacking and leveling strip A interposed between the body and the bed plate which it supports, and bed-plate covering or cloth A; and B, cloth stretching and holding means interposed between the rails and the tacking strip and bed-plate. 1

As is well known in the art, the covering cloth for the bed-plate usually has its margins turned down over the edges of the bedplate and tacked to the leveling and tacking strip which lies beneath the marginal portions of the bed-plate. In restretching the cloth as, also, in renewing the cloth, it has heretofore been necessary to remove the rails, extract the tacks, and laboriously stretch the cloth and tack it, and then replace the rails. My invention obviates the necessity for this laborious process, and what is still more important, provides for the nicest uniformity in stretching the cloth, which is a prime essential in game tables, and especially in billiard tables.

Still referring to Figs. 1 to 4, it is noted that the rails A A, are of general T-shape, the shank or web a of eachrail lying outside the edges of the bed plate and tacking strip, while the head of the rail lies above the bed- .plate. The webs or shanks of the rails are recessed or grooved on the inner surfaces of their lower portions, as indicated at a (see, also, Fig. 7), to accommodate betweenthem and the bed-plate and tacking-strip edges, the vertical wings of the angle-form clothholding bars employed. The inner edge of each rail is equipped with the usual cushionstrip o The cloth-holding and stretching means B comprises adjustable toothed angle-form end rim-members or bars I); adjustable toothed angle-form side-bars or side rim-members I); headed studs or screws 1) projecting from the edges of the tacking strip and received by vertical guide slots '5 in the vertical flanges b of the angle-bars; vertical set-screws b threaded in the inturned flanges of said angle-bars and bearing beneath the tackingstrip; non-adjustable, toothed, short clothholding members received by the pockets b, to which they conform, and in which they are secured by screws b passing into the recessed edges of the tacking strips; and leather guards or flaps b tacked or otherwise suitably secured in the pockets b and covering the teeth of the members I). As shown, the vertical flanges of the angle-bars are provided with outwardly-struck, downwardlyointed teeth I) which have their shanks ying substantially parallel with the flange b from which the teeth are struck and have their, points curved outwardly, as shown'in Fig. 2. Fig. 10 showsmore advan- Cir tageously th'e'same form of tooth. It will be noted that the formation is such as to facilitate hooking the. cloth 'on and at the same time provide a wide shoulder at the base of the tooth adapted to prevent tearing of the cloth. Moreover, there is a substantial clamping or frictional engagement of the cloth between the shanks of the teeth and the flange from which they are struck which aids in preserving the cloth from tearing.

At the pockets of the table, it will generally suffice to provide the non-adjustable toothed members If for securing the cloth thereat, although it is to be observed that it is feasible, by giving to the members If a slightly smaller contour than the pockets in which they fit, to form them integrally with the adjustable angle-bars so that they may beadju'sted therewith. As shown in Figs. 2 & 4, the members 6 comprise curved sheetmetal strips, or bars, having teeth 12 formed integrally therewith by striking ,the metal outwardly. In practice, the cloth may be pulled down by hand and hooked onto the teeth I), after adjustment of the toothed angle-bar's with the cloth attached thereto.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5 & 6, a non-adjustable flat bar B curved edge-wise, to conform to the pockets 1) is ta'ckedfor screwed onto the lower surface of the ledge formed by the rojection of the tacking-strip beyond the tab e-body, and the outer edge of the bar 13 is provided with integrally formed teeth I). In such a construction, handstretching of the cloth is depended upon to give the necessary t'a'utness and smoothness to the cloth, and, it is to be observed, much better resultscan be obtained in this manner than by the old method of tacking, and, at

the same time, the laborious work of tacking the clothis obviated.

Referring to Fi s. 7 to 11, the billiard ta-' ble shown is simi ar in construction to the pool table described, eXce t as to the I Sockets. A re resents the tab' e top, or be A the body; the tacking and leveling-strip A, the removable cushion-rail, of the usual construction; A, the bed covering, or cloth; and B, the cloth-securing and adjusting means. The corners of the table-top, or slab are cha'mfered in the usual way, as ndicated ata to provide for the sweepings of the table. The rail (1 is secured in the usual way by means of bolts a which pass through the rail and connect with nuts a contained in recesses a in the slate bed, or table-to The rail 'isshaved or recessed slightly at t e lower portionof its inner surface, as indicated at a, to accommodate the toothed bars of the device B.

The device B comprises angle-bars b, b extending about the perimeter of the table, one at each edge of the table; screws 1) extending through vertical slots b in thevertical flanges of said angle-bars and into the tacking-strip A and set-screws 5 having threaded connection with the horizontal flanges of said angle-bars. The horizontal flan es are shown provided with reinforcing bloc (s, or strips, 6 to afford a better connection with the set-screws. The vertical flanges of the angle-bars have out-struck, downwardly-pointed main teeth I), and su plemental short, horizontal, outwardlypointed teeth I) alternating with the teeth I). The function of the teeth 5 is to prevent disengagement of the cloth from those teeth I) to which it has been applied while the cloth is being pulled down at an adjacent point for engagement with the adjacent teeth I). The vertical flanges of the angle bars are provided at their upper edges with recesses b to accommodate the rail-bolts a The rail bolts are hidden by false buttons or removable caps u At the corners of the table, the corners of the vertical flanges of the an le-bars are cut or chamfered, as indicatec at b iand the extremities of the bars are bent to conform to the oblique vertical surface I) of the table-top. seen that the table-top (with its tackin strip) is surrounded by an adjustable metal lic toothed rim, the teeth of whichare so disposed as to enable the cloth to be hooked on at any point ofall of its edges.

In the modification shown in Fig. 12, B represents the cloth attaching device. In this construction the device comprises small angle-bars having horizontal flanges secured to the lower surface of the tacking-strip and having vertical depending flanges, equipped It will thus be teeth.

In the modification shown in Fig. 13, B represents the cloth-attaching device, comrising flat bars attached to the lower surace of the tacking-strip, the outer edges of said bars having alternately long and short teeth formed integrally therewith, the long teeth being bent downwardly and havin their points curved outwardly slightly, as shown.

It is noteworthy that in each construction the table-top is equipped at its perimeter with a toothed metallic rim with closely spaced teeth thereon, insuring uniform stretching and adequate holding of the cloth. Moreover, the expedient prevents injury to the tacking-strip, such as comes from frequent tacking on and removal of a cloth. It is to be noted, also, that in the leading constructions shown, the teeth are located near the center of the edge of the table-top, there by adapting the device for use "in connection with standard-cut cloths Which are commonly'of just the size of the table-top.

It is expected, of course, that the device will be applied to old tables as well as to tables in the course of manufacture. In every instance, the toothed rim is guarded or hidden by the cushion-rail, and, except for the noticeable improved stretching and holding of the cloth, the casual observer cannot distinguish the improved table from the old tables in appearance. Where adjustable rims are employed, the adjustment of the cloth, in restretching, may be effected without removal of the cushion-rails.

It may be added that While I prefer to have the table-top completely encircled by the toothed bars, very good results may be obtained by employing said bars on one or two sides or throughout the greater portion of the several sides.

' What I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a gametable having a top, a cloth covering said top and having its margins depending at the edges of the table-top, and rails located at the edges of the table-top contiguous to the margins of said cloth, of metallic bars interposed between the depending margins of the cloth and the edges of the table top and equipped with outwardly projecting, downwardly turned teeth extending through said margins of the cloth.

2. The combination with a game-table having a top rails and cloth, of a metallic bar applied to the table-top and having integrally formed outwardly-struck downwardly pointed cloth-engaging teeth.

3. In a game table, the combination with the table-body, the tacking-strip, the superposed table-top slab,the rails'removablyconnected with said slab, and the cloth covering said slab and having its edge margins turned down over the edges of the slab, of a metallic bar secured to the tacking-strip and equipped with down-turned teeth, said margins of the cloth passing outsidev of said bar and hooked onto said teeth.

4. The combination of a table-body, a table-top projecting beyond said body to form a ledge, a toothed bar applied to said ledge, a cloth covering said table-top and having its margins turned downwardly over said bar and engaging the teeth thereof, and removable cushion-rails applied to the table top and shielding said toothed bar. j

5. The combination with the top, rails and cloth of a game-table, of adjustable toothed bars whose teeth engage the margins of said cloth, for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination with the top, rails and cloth of a game-table, of adjustable bars applied to the edge-portions of the table-top and comprising angle bars having vertical flanges provided with outwardly-struck, downwardly-pointed teeth, for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination with a table-body, a table-top projecting beyond said body and forming a ledge, a covering for said table-top,

top, of bars having vertical flanges interposed between the table-top edges and said rails and provided with outwardly-struck, downwardly-pointed cloth-engaging teeth.

8. In a game-table, the combination with .a table-top having recesses at its edges and a covering for said table-top, of bars applied to the edges of said table-top and including toothed members conforming to the edge recesses of the table-top.

9. The combination with a table-body, a table-top projecting beyond said body and forming a ledge, a covering for said table-topand rails applied to the edges of said tabletop, of angle-form bars having vertical toothed flanges interposed between the table-top edges and said rails and having horizontal flanges disposed beneath said ledge, and setscrews passingthroughsaid horizontal flanges and bearing beneath said ledge.

10. The combination with a table-body, a table-top projecting beyond said body and forming a ledge, a covering for said table-top and rails applied to the edges of said table-top, of angle-form bars having vertical toothed flanges interposed between the tabletop edges and said railsand having horizontal flanges disposed beneath said ledge, clamping screws passing through guides in said Vertical flanges, and set-screws passing through said horizontal flanges and bearing beneath said ledge.

11. A cloth-attaching rim for game-tables, comprising'bars equipped with integrallyformed, outwardly struck, downwardlypointed cloth-engaging teeth.

12. A cloth-attaching rim for game-tables, comprising bars equipped with integrallyformed, outwardly struck, downwardly pointed clothengaging teeth and supplemental relatively short, outwardly pointed cloth-engaging teeth.

13. A cloth-attaching rim for game-tables, comprising bars having bent extremities adapted to conform to the chamfered corners of a table-top and equipped throughout their length with cloth-engaging teeth.

14. A cloth-attaching rim for game-tables, comprising angle-form bars Whose vertical flanges are provided with integrally formed, outwardly struck, cloth-engaging teeth. 7

. 15. A cloth-attaching device for gametables, comprising angle-form bars having toothed vertical flanges provided with openings, clamping screws therefor, and setscrews connected with the horizontal flanges of said bars.

16. The combination with a table-top having pocket recesses at its edges and a covering for said table-top, of toothed bars applied to said table-top and extending into said recesses, and guards or flaps in said recesses covering saidtoothed bars thereat, for

and rails applied to the edges of said tablethe purpose set forth.

downwardly pointed 17. A cloth-attaching rim for game-tables, to the edges of said table-top, of metallic bars comprising metal bars having outWardlyinterposed between the table-top edges and struck, downwardly-pointed teeth lying adsaid rails and equipped With means engaging j acent to the outer surfaces of the bars and and securing the margins of said cloth, for the 5 aldaptpld lip exert a clamping action on the purpose set forth.

0 0th 00 e thereon.

18. The combination with a table-body, a HAROLD BARRETT table top projecting beyond said body and In presence offorming a ledge, a covering for said table top A. U. THORIEN,

10 having depending margins, and rails applied R. A. SGI-IAEFER. 

